Editor’s note: The Daily Reporter will feature our “Neighbors” each month, whether it be someone with an interesting hobby or profession, or a nonprofit group making a difference in our community. Here, Donna Griffin, president of Dani’s Dreams, shares about her organization and her effort to honor her daughter’s legacy through education. If you know a person or a group that you’d like to see featured in Neighbors, email [email protected].
Name: Donna Griffin, president of Dani’s Dreams Innovation in Education Corp.
Organization address: 7111 W. Meadows Lane, Greenfield
Contact and donation info: (317) 640-4430, danisdreamscorp.org, facebook.com/DanisDreamsTeam, [email protected]
Annual budget: $10,000
Other members of the board: Brittany Bennett, vice-president; David Griffin, treasurer
Daily Reporter: What is your group’s mission?
Griffin: Dani’s Dreams mission is to connect students and teachers to the world using media and technology to explore and create fun, family learning experiences through hands-on activities, events, and programs. During the pandemic, we stayed connected with virtual Earth Day Eco Lessons. As a 501c3 non-profit, Dani’s Dreams is now using Pop-Ups and digital books designed to empower children to learn and explore their environment.
DR: Who do you serve?
Griffin: K-12 students, teachers and parents in Hancock County
DR: How did it all begin?
Griffin: Dani Griffin, my daughter, grew up from age 4 with New Palestine as her playground and Zion Lutheran School her educational and spiritual foundation until age 14. She went on to leave the small town she loved when her family moved to El Paso.
But she never forgot.
After graduation from high school in El Paso, she headed for the ocean to pursue her dreams of being a marine biologist. But a love of children and education shaped her goals to include becoming a teacher and a coach. She graduated from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi. She was working as a substitute teacher awaiting a permanent position and at the Corpus Christi YMCA when she was killed in 2006 at age 23 by a speeding driver who drove through a stop sign.
As a lover of music, art and all things natural, Dani left a legacy of caring and concern for others and the world around her.
To keep this spirit alive, her family in the New Palestine/Indianapolis area established Dani Dreams in 2008.
DR: What is your group’s biggest challenge?
Griffin: Our biggest challenge is continuing to connect with teachers and students coming out of the pandemic. We are working to be flexible to bring our Pop-Ups to schools, in-person and virtually as needed. Our top need is to maintain and expand the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran, the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Trail at Sugar Creek Township Park, and bring back the ECOFEST Lessons program at New Palestine High School.
To keep these programs free, we need donations/sponsors for our trail signs and school programs.
DR: What are some of your events or fundraisers?
Griffin: We held a walk/run and T-shirt design contest for 11 years and had planned an Earth Day Festival in 2020 that was cancelled due to COVID. Currently we are in the process of regrouping and planning our future fundraising campaigns.
DR: How can someone step up to help?
Griffin: High school and college students can volunteer with Dani’s Dreams to earn community service hours. You can also schedule a Dani’s Dreams Pop-Up Family Fun event. We show up with all the good stuff to keep the kids engaged and excited. (They’ll learn something too, but shhhh… don’t tell!) All events are adapted to meet social distancing & health guidelines.
